EEB Finds Estonian EU Council Presidency Failed to Fill Regulatory Gaps on Nanomaterials
Tuesday, January 9, 2018

The European Environmental Bureau (EEB) announced on December 22, 2017, the availability of its assessment of the environmental performance of the Estonian Presidency of the European Union (EU).  The assessment is based on the results of “Ten Green Tests” laid out at the beginning of Estonia’s Presidency.  The eighth test is protecting the public from hazardous chemicals, including mercury.  The test includes encouraging the European Commission (EC) “to develop a new strategy for a non-toxic environment that builds on a strengthened implementation of [the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation], fills regulatory gaps such as on nanomaterials and mixture effects, and sets out a way forward following the fitness checks of REACH and all other EU Chemical safety legislation.”  EEB notes that while there were positive steps taken, “the Estonian Presidency did not work on the regulatory gaps on nanomaterials, but rather encouraged its development as a new revolutionary technology in several events.”  The Ten Green Tests for the Bulgarian Presidency include reminding the EC “of its obligation under the Seventh Environmental Action Programme to develop by 2018 a new strategy for a non-toxic environment and urge that this builds on a strengthened implementation of REACH, fills regulatory gaps such as on nanomaterials and mixture effects, and sets out a way forward following the fitness checks of REACH and all other EU Chemical safety legislation.”

 

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